Sohae Line

Sŏhae Line
Overview
Other name(s)Anju Colliery Line
(안주탄광성 安州炭鑛線)
Native name서해선 (西海線)
StatusOperational
OwnerKorean State Railway
LocaleSouth P'yŏngan
Termini
Stations10
Service
TypeHeavy rail, Passenger & freight rail
Regional rail
Operator(s)Korean State Railway
History
OpenedMundŏk–Namdong: 1970s
Ch'ŏngnam–Hwap'ung: 1987
Closed2000s
Technical
Line length22.4 km (13.9 mi)
Number of tracksSingle track
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification3000 V DC Overhead line
Mundŏk-P'yŏngnam Sŏho,
Ch'ŏngnam-Sŏsi
Route map

Legend
P'yŏngŭi Line to Sinŭiju
 Taegyo
0.0
 Mundŏk
(bridge appx 50 m (160 ft))
5.6
 Sŏngbŏp
P'yŏngŭi Line to P'yŏngyang
11.6
0.0
 Ch'ŏngnam
coal mine
DPRK-Iran Friendship Ripsŏk Co-op Farm
2.2
 Ripsŏk T'an'gwang coal mine
Ch'ŏngnam Line
15.6
0.0
 Samch'ŏnp'o
5.0
 T'aehyang coal mine
coal mine
4.1
 Sŏsi
10.2
 P'yŏngnam Sŏho
coal mine
13.5
 Hwap'ung coal mine
Closed
(bridge appx 50 m (160 ft))
Ch'ŏngnam Line
22.4
 Namdong
Closed
Namdong Line
Closed
Sohae Line
Chosŏn'gŭl
서해선
Hancha
Revised RomanizationSeohae-seon
McCune–ReischauerSŏhae-sŏn

The Sŏhae Line, also known as the Anju Colliery Line (안주 탄광선), is a partially electrified standard-gauge secondary line of the Korean State Railway in South P'yŏngan Province, North Korea, running from Mundŏk on the P'yŏngŭi Line to Hwap'ung.[1] The line is electrified between Mundŏk and P'yŏngnam Sŏho and between Ch'ŏngnam and Sŏsi.

History

In order to exploit coal fields in the area, the Korean State Railway opened the 22.4 km (13.9 mi) Mundŏk—Ch'ŏngnam—Namdong line in the 1970s.[2] Electrification of the line to Namdong was completed in 1978. In 1987 the line was expanded in two directions - one a loop line from Samch'ŏnp'o - the Ch'ŏngnam Line - and the other an extension westwards from Ch'ŏngnam to Hwap'ung.[2] The sections from P'yŏngnam Sŏho to Hwap'ung and to Sŏsi were later abandoned.

Services

Much of the coal that originates on the line is shipped to the Ch'ŏngch'ŏn River Thermal Power Plant on the Ch'ŏnghwaryŏk Line.[3]

Route

A yellow background in the "Distance" box indicates that section of the line is not electrified.

Mainline

Distance (km) Station Name Former Name
Total S2S Transcribed Chosŏn'gŭl (Hanja) Transcribed Chosŏn'gŭl (Hanja) Connections
(Former)
0.0 0.0 Mundŏk 문덕 (文德) Mansŏng 만성 (萬城) P'yŏngŭi Line
5.6 5.6 Sŏngbŏp 성법 (聖法) (Sŏngbŏp Branch)
11.6 6.0 Ch'ŏngnam 청남 (淸南) (Ch'ŏngnam Line)
15.6 4.0 Samch'ŏnp'o 삼천포 (三川浦) Sŏsi Branch
(Ch'ŏngnam Line)
22.4 6.8 Namdong 남동 (南洞) Closed.
(Namdong Line)

Hwap'ung Branch

Distance (km) Station Name Former Name
Total S2S Transcribed Chosŏn'gŭl (Hanja) Transcribed Chosŏn'gŭl (Hanja) Connections
(Former)
0.0 0.0 Ch'ŏngnam 청남 (淸南) Main line
(Ch'ŏngnam Line)
2.2 2.2 Ripsŏk T'an'gwang 립석탄광 (立石炭鑛)
5.0 2.8 T'aehyang 태향 (汰香)
10.2 5.2 P'yŏngnam Sŏho 평남서호 (平南西湖) (Sŏsi Branch)
13.5 3.4 Hwap'ung 화풍 (和豊) Closed

Sŏngbŏp Branch

Closed.

Distance (km) Station Name Former Name
Total S2S Transcribed Chosŏn'gŭl (Hanja) Transcribed Chosŏn'gŭl (Hanja) Connections
0.0 0.0 Sŏngbŏp 성법 (聖法) (Main line)
Taegyo 대교 (大橋) (P'yŏngŭi Line)

Sŏsi Branch

Closed from P'yŏngnam Sŏho, but Sŏsi Station is still in use via Samch'ŏnp'o.

Distance (km) Station Name Former Name
Total S2S Transcribed Chosŏn'gŭl (Hanja) Transcribed Chosŏn'gŭl (Hanja) Connections
0.0 0.0 Samch'ŏnp'o 삼천포 (三川浦) Main line
(Ch'ŏngnam Line)
4.1 4.1 Sŏsi 서시 (-) Sŏsa 서사 (西砂)
7.9 3.8 P'yŏngnam Sŏho 평남서호 (平南西湖) Main line.
Section from Sŏsi to
P'yŏngnam Sŏho closed.


References

  1. ^ Kokubu, Hayato, 将軍様の鉄道 (Shōgun-sama no Tetsudō), ISBN 978-4-10-303731-6
  2. ^ a b Choe, Un-sik, 한국의 전통 사회 운송 기구, ISBN 978-89-7300-728-8, pp. 114-115
  3. ^ North Korea Geographic Information: Transportation Geography - P'yŏngŭi Line (in Korean)